How Adaptive Archery and Peer Support Shaped Bob’s Life After Limb Loss
Reading Time: 5 minutes
___
Summary:
-
Bob Aims chose a below-knee amputation after years of circulation problems and a non-healing wound.
-
WellSpan’s amputee support group connected him with others who share his experience.
-
Aims volunteers as a peer visitor for patients starting recovery and in student programs on life with a prosthesis.
-
WellSpan recreational therapist Rachel Kerr says adaptive recreation applies therapy skills to everyday life and builds confidence.
___
In June, 74-year-old Bob Aims attended an adaptive archery clinic with his own bow. Having grown up practicing archery, he was comfortable with the equipment. What made the clinic different was the diverse group around him—amputee support group members, individuals at various skill levels, and people with different physical abilities—all shooting together.
Aims had a below-knee amputation in 2023. His story shows what recovery can look like: staying active, spending time with people who understand what he’s going through, and supporting those new to amputee life.
A carefully considered decision
Aims’s journey toward amputation began with a long-standing problem. Poor circulation had left a lesion on his left foot that would not heal, and he began weighing what to do next.
He did not rush the process. Instead, Aims talked through his options with his healthcare team, did extensive research on his own, and ultimately chose a below-knee amputation. He told WellSpan that his goal was to become more capable, that he knew his situation wasn’t going to deteriorate further, and that once he pushed through with the amputation, his quality of life might even improve.
Rebuilding mobility
His surgery took place at WellSpan York Hospital in Pennsylvania. A two-week stay at WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital followed, focused on recovery and getting him moving again. He speaks fondly of the staff and considers his rehabilitation a success.
Today, he gets around with a prosthetic leg and a cane, and remains an active presence in his community.
Finding people who understand
Aims counts his own recovery as smooth, but he understands that many people are left unsure about what comes next after losing a limb. That's why the support and friendship he experiences in WellSpan’s amputee community, and elsewhere, are so meaningful to him.
For years, he has taken part in the amputee support group at WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital, where he meets others with similar experiences. In his view, the group is made up of everyday people with full, engaged lives, and limb loss is simply one more thing they have in common.
A day at the range
In addition to monthly meetings, members keep in touch through adaptive recreation events planned by the rehabilitation team. One was the June archery clinic Aims attended, organized with help from local archery specialists and open to people of all skill levels and a wide range of physical abilities.
Aims, who has practiced archery since he was a child, brought his personal bow and spent part of the day helping people just getting started. He told WellSpan that he enjoys chatting with newer shooters and that everyone around him was welcoming and encouraging.
The day meant more to Aims than the shooting itself. It was a reminder that getting better does not require leaving behind the activities that bring enjoyment and connection to a person.
Giving back
Having experienced the recovery process himself, Aims now dedicates time to those just starting out. Through the support group, he serves as a peer visitor, spending time with patients at the very start of their recovery.
He also volunteers with educational programs where students learn what life with a prosthesis is like.
Why recreation is important
Recreational therapist Rachel Kerr, who works at WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital, regards activities like the archery clinic as a vital part of rehabilitation. She explained that these activities give people a chance to apply what they practice in therapy to everyday settings, benefiting patients’ bodies and minds alike.
She believes the setting also helps both people trying something for the first time and those returning to an activity they have loved for years. Kerr pointed to Aims’s story as an example of ongoing progress, adding that opportunities like this can strengthen confidence and show that a full life remains possible after limb loss.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining WellSpan’s amputee community, the Limb-It-Less Amputee Support Group is available both online and in person.
Related Reading:
Fun Activities to Try This Summer
Fueled by Support, Amputees Take Their Shot at the Game
Traditional vs. High-Tech Rehab: What Research Shows About Adjusting to a Lower-Limb Prosthesis
